Deeply Rooted: Gratitude, Joy, and Camel Thorn Trees

 

This is the Namib Desert.  It is located in the African country of Namibia and is the oldest desert on planet Earth. It also contains some of the most arid areas on the planet.  Due to the Benguela current and  the dry air of the Hadley Cell, the Namib Desert receives less than .39 inches of rain annually and is almost completely barren.  The Namib Desert covers over 30,000  square miles and contains some of the tallest sand dunes in the world, some of which are 328 yards high and 20 miles long.  It's desolate, and it's also beautiful.

This is a Camel Thorn Tree.  A fairly big Camel Thorn Tree.  And guess where it's growing?  In the Namib Desert.  And not only is it growing, it's thriving.  In some of the harshest, driest conditions on earth, this tree is doing just fine.  And, while we were visiting the Namib Desert, they were in the middle of a 7 year drought.  Which means that they hadn't received much, if any,  measurable rainfall.  In fact our guide said that they hadn't had any measurable rainfall in a few years.

So how does this tree survive here?  It has several adaptations that allow it to grow in this dry climate.  The light color thorns and leaves reflect the sunlight, helping to keep the tree cool.  Camel Thorns also have what are called Bipinnate leaves, which can close up when hot, thus keeping them from being scorched by the sun.  But what really allows the Camel Tree to not only survive, but also thrive in the desert is their taproot system.  Camel Thorn Trees can send their roots over 200 feet below the earth to find deep water sources.  Not only does this root system bring much needed water and nutrients to the trees, it also makes them extremely stable and hard to tip over.  Very cool tree, huh?

I'll circle back to the Camel Thorn in a minute and hopefully tie all my thoughts together.  But for now lets make a leap over to Advent.  This weeks Advent candle symbolizes joy, and so this week I have been thinking about that word and what it means to me, and to others during Christmas.  And I couldn't help but think about people I know who are personally struggling right now with grief, or illness, or a whole host of other very real and hard life issues that make having and finding joy hard.  The news certainly tries to suck all the joy out of my day, not a lot of joyful stories happening there either.  Joy just seems to be hard to find and hold on to right now for so many people.  And yet, in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 it says,

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances;  for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

Ok, so God's will is for us to have joy in all circumstances, but how do we do that?  How do we have joy in the midst of our own personal desert, when there's no water or relief to be found?  Which brings me back, sort of, to the Camel Thorn Tree and some life lessons that we may be able to learn from this tree.  

The first lesson is based around location.  You see, the Camel Thorn Tree's circumstances do not need to change in order for the tree to thrive.  The tree never leaves the dry desert... it's location or circumstance isn't changed, and yet it has found ways to flourish in spite of the harsh environment.  I think we often put parameters around joy by telling ourselves that joy cannot be had or found in our present circumstances or location.  That joy is dependent upon a change in the situation.  But in the scripture above God clearly states that joy or rejoicing shouldn't be tied to our circumstances.   

Which brings me to the second lesson from the Camel Thorn Tree of being deeply rooted.  The Camel Thorn Tree digs it's roots deep into the earth--seeking, looking, and searching out every drop of life giving water it can find.  And here is where I am asking you to take a little leap with me and imagine that you and I are like a Camel Thorn Tree planted in a dry desert and that the "water" we are seeking is really gratitude.  You see, the foundation of joy is gratitude.  

So we need to be like the Camel Thorn Tree, and send out our roots deep-- looking for-- seeking gratitude and joy.  For me, this means that I actively look for things to be grateful for.  For example, during a particularly hard time in my life when I was struggling finding joy, I decided to write down 5 things I was grateful for during the day (I usually did this at night).  Some days my list felt pitifully simple.  It would consist of small things like noticing a pretty flower blooming,  getting in the short line at the grocery store, spending a few minutes snuggling with my cat.  But what this simple little practice did was teach me to actively look for things to be grateful for.  And once I made that shift, my lists grew bigger, and so did my joy.  It also taught me that gratitude and joy can come from small, seemingly insignificant things.

Which brings me to the final Camel Tree Lesson of stability and health.  You see, not only does a deep root system bring life giving nourishment to the tree, it also makes the tree strong, able to withstand the strong winds and storms it may face.  I think we often diminish the important role joy  (and gratitude) plays in our lives.  We think of it more as a fleeting feeling rather than a deep foundational requirement to living the full life God wants for us.  In fact, there are several scriptures about the important role joy and gratitude have in a Christ filled life.

Philippians 4:8-9 states,

"Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious--the best, not the worst;  the beautiful, not the ugly;  things to praise, not things to curse.  Put into practice what you learned from me,  what you heard and saw and realized.  Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies."  The Message

Nehemiah 8:10 states.

"The joy of the Lord is your strength."

and Proverbs 17:22 says,

"A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."

God desires that we have an abundant life.  And joy is an important part of that fulness He's talking about.  But like all good things, joy is something that we often have to work for.  It doesn't always come easy.  And it sure feels like the world ( and life in general) works overtime to steal our gratitude and joy.  When my mom was fighting cancer, I know she had to work hard to find her joy.  She wrote pretty honestly in some of her journals about that battle.  And in spite of her circumstances, she found gratitude and joy.  And that joy gave her strength.  

One final note about the Camel Thorn Tree.  Because they are able to find deep sources of nourishment due to their root system, they are able to flower and bear fruit in even the harshest of circumstances.  And those flowers and seed pods then feed several animals and thus help sustain life around the dessert.  Did you know that joy is a fruit of the spirit?  And that your joy can not only be a source of strength for you but for others around you?

If you are reading this, and are feeling like you have lost your joy, I hope this encourages you to start seeking out small moments of joy and gratitude.  And my prayer for you is that those small moments begin to bind together into a deep root system that provides you nourishment and strength, and that you become deeply rooted in the joy of the Lord.  Joy to the world, the Lord has come!  Merry Christmas to you all!

I'll leave you with a few more photos of the stunning beauty of the Namib Desert.

Scary Stories: Hyenas and Fear and Gratitude revisited..

 

It's been a little over 6 years since I wrote the blog about Hyena's and what they taught me about beauty and gratitude.  Maybe it's the time of year, Thanksgiving is over and we are heading into Christmas-- both holidays instill a sense of extra gratitude into everyday life.  Maybe it's because even though my mom has been gone for 4 years now, her loss is felt deeper during the holidays.  And maybe it's because I have people who are dear to me going through some really hard stuff,  and I find myself praying extra hard for God to help them.  But whatever the reason, I've been thinking about gratitude in the midst of life.... and how very hard it is sometimes to be grateful.  

And that brings me to one of what I call my scary Bible stories.  It's the story of Job.  And this story, for whatever reason, has always been a kind of scary one to me.  Kind of like those creepy nursery rhymes we all learned when we were little and didn't understand what we were reading.  Then we grew up and were kind of mortified to discover the meaning behind some of the "rhymes."    So to hopefully do this story justice let's start with the story in the Bible.  

"In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job.  This man was blameless and upright;  he feared God and shunned evil.  He had seven sons and three daughters.  He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.  His sons used to take turns holding feasts in their homes, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.  When a period of feasting had run it's course, Job would send and have them purified.  Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.  This was Job's regular custom."    Job 1: 1-2, 4-5

So the story starts out in a good way.  There's this guy Job, who is wealthy, but he's a really good guy.  I mean, it says he is blameless and that he honors God.  He does everything he is supposed to do and he does it in the right way.  But then the villain shows up (Satan) and the story takes a dark turn.  God points out Job and his faithfulness.  And in my brain it's almost like Satan dares God to place a bet on Job's goodness.  He (Satan) argues that of course Job is blameless, because it's easy to be faithful to God when life is good.  Satan makes the argument that Job's faithfulness to God is  shallow and would go away if all of his blessings went away.  And God takes the bet.  He gives Satan free range to take everything from Job, everything but his life.

And this is the beginning of the scary part of the story.  Job loses everything.  His wealth, his children, his influence, his friends, and even his health.  What I find interesting is Job's response to the news of the loss of his wealth and children:

"At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head.  Then he fell to the ground in worship and said:  Naked I came from my mother's womb and naked I will depart.  The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.  In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing."  Jobe 1:20-22

Wow!  What a response.  I would love to say that I would respond the same way.  I have my doubts.  I am not on Job's level. At all.  But while I was admiring Job's response I found  this passage in Job that I know I have read several times before, but it stood out to me this time.  In Job 3:25 Job states, " What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me."  Huh.  I guess in all the times I have read and studied this story, I never once thought about Job having fears before all the bad stuff.  But then I re-read verses 4-5 in chapter one, you know, the ones where Job offered sacrifices for his children, in case they sinned?  That sounds like a worried parent, maybe even a parent who had fears around his children.  

Ok, so now I  have to realign my narrative of this scary story.  Although Job was a righteous and blameless man, he was still very human, and he had FEARS.  And yet, even though he had fears, he was still considered blameless.  Okay.  

What do you fear?  I personally have a lot of them, if I think about it.   Most of what I fear is not crippling,  and some of the things I fear are not based on rational or even plausible things.  A silly example of what I fear:  We once watched this show about cave diving, people who dive with oxygen tanks in underwater caves.  While watching this show one of the divers got stuck while swimming through a narrow passage.  There was all this drama  about this person getting un-stuck before their oxygen in the tank ran out.  Once they finally managed to get this individual unstuck, there was still the concern about them having enough oxygen  to get to the surface.  I'll admit, before I watched this show, I never had a fear of dying stuck in an underwater cave without oxygen before.  I do now.  But it's a silly fear because I will never, ever, take up the sport of cave diving.  

Six years ago, when I wrote the blog about Hyena's and fear, and gratitude... we were facing the very real fear of my Mom's battle with cancer.  And I would love to say that I was this super Christian through that process.  That I always had peace, that I never doubted God, that I didn't struggle.  But of course I did.  I'm so very human.  And in my mind, not only am I so very human, but I will never be a 'Job."  I will never be able to react like Job did.  How on earth did he do it?

While Job has this incredible faith and hope in God, he's still very human.  And this is what I love about this scary story.  Job doesn't suffer in silence.  He instead cries out to God.  And he's honest about what's happening.  He's honest about his sorrow.  He's honest about his loss.  But he also understands who God is.  And even in his honesty, his anguish, his hardship... Job still looks to God with hope.  

In Job 6:10 he says, "Then I would still have this consolation-- my joy in unrelenting pain-- that I had not denied the words of the Holy One."   In Job 13:15 he says, "Though he slay me, yet I will hope in him."  In Job 14:14 he says "I will wait for my renewal to come."  In Job 23:10 he says, "He knows the way I take; when he has tested me I will come forth as gold."  Again and again, despite his circumstances, despite others telling Job a different story, Job returns and clings to what he knows of God's nature.  

And for me, that's what turns this scary story into one of the most hopeful stories in the Bible.  You see, Job knew God.  Job understood not only the nature of God, but he also understood his own unworthiness.  He understood that God was all powerful, all knowing, Holy, and deserving of our praise.  Job understood that even he, who was considered as blameless by God, was born  a sinner in need of being saved by God.  Job understood that even if he died during all of these trials, he would still gain something so much more, an eternal life with God in heaven.  Job placed value in the right places.  It doesn't mean he didn't value his wealth, he just didn't value it more than his relationship with God.  It doesn't mean that he didn't value his family,  he obviously valued his children so much that he took it upon himself to intercede with God for them by offering up sacrifices on their behalf.  That's a lot of work and time and effort -- to make a sacrifice for each child-- he greatly valued his children.  But there was only one God in Job's life.  

Job not only placed God as the head of his life, he also spent time with God.  It says he was totally devoted to God.  We know he made regular sacrifices to God.  I think it is safe to assume that he prayed to God regularly and often.  In Job 23:11-12 Job says, " My feet have closely followed his steps;  I have kept his way without turning aside.  I have not departed from the commands of his lips;  I have treasured the words of his mount more than my daily bread."  He actively sought to know God.  So when Job's "friends" came to him, trying to tell him things about God that were untrue?  Job had a relationship with God to fall back on.  He could hold onto his hope because he trusted what he already knew about God.  

So that's just a simple taste of how Job made it through the utter devastation of his life.  How he lived through and faced one of the greatest fears of his life.  Job placed God as first in his life.  Job actively sought to know and understand who God is and what His will was for his life.  And he clung to what he knew about God's nature.  I am by no means a scholar or a teacher.  I will be the first to admit that there's a lot more buried in this story for me to learn.  I'll keep reading this story.

So, I am writing all of this to hopefully encourage you.  I know it's encouraging to me.  I still have fears.  Life is still life, and sometimes it's hard and seems unfair.  I stumble.  I doubt.  I am hopeful.  And I can still be joyful.  Through it all.  I have a God who sees it all.  I have a God who sees me, all of me, and still loves me.  I am still so very human.  But He is still so very God.  And the best news of all?  You have the same God that I do.  You have the same access that I do.  And I can tell you that He is a good God, even when life isn't good.  

And I saved the best part of the story for the end.  Job 42: 5 records some of that last words that Job spoke,  "My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you."  This man, who knew God like no one else did, who clung to the hope he knew he had in God, acknowledges that he still had a lot to learn about God and who He is.  It says that the Lord blessed the latter years of Job's life more that the first. And the last line in the book of Job says he died an old man with a full life.

In 2019, I had the opportunity to travel back to my beloved Africa.  And I was able to spend some more time with one of my favorite animals, the Hyena.  I am still fascinated by them, still amazed by them, and yes, still house a healthy fear of them.  My mom died later that year after her nearly 15 year battle with cancer.  One of my greatest fears realized... and yet I am still grateful.  I can still see the beauty in the middle of the pain.  Her funeral was standing room only-- and a lot of those in attendance were those she had touched and ministered too after she was diagnosed with cancer.  Her memorial was not only a celebration of her life, but more importantly it was a celebration of the goodness of God.  People still send me "Verna" stories to this day-- stories about how my mom encouraged them, loved them, showed them the love of God.  It's a good ending to a scary story.  And it's not the end,  I'll see her again one day.  So, I'll leave you with some not so scary photos that I took of Hyena's the year I lost my mom.  I hope you enjoy them.

What Floats Your Boat?

 

 Paros, Greece

Have you ever looked at a boat and wondered how on earth it floated?  The scientific explanation can be found in the Archimedes Principle found in Physics.  The basic, paraphrased version of this principle is this:  An object floats when the volume of water displaced is equal or greater than the weight of the object.  Ok, I can mostly follow that logic.  So, out of curiosity I looked up (googled) the heaviest ship--it's a ship called the Pioneering Spirit and it weighs in at a whopping 403,342 Gross Tonnage.  That's a heavy ship!  And it floats!  It really is an amazing feat of naval architecture.  And yet, conditions must be just right in order for a boat or ship to float.

What happens to a boat that is overburdened with weight?  It sinks.  I shouldn't have to explain to you that holes in a ship are bad and can lead to a boat sinking.  And if the ship gets tipped over by the wind?  You guessed it, it sinks.

And here is where I am making the leap from this broad idea of boats and ships sinking and floating, to a practical analogy about life and how to stay afloat, so to speak.  I hope this encourages you today.  I know it has encouraged me.

If we are going to talk about floating, we also need to talk about sinking.  What causes a boat to sink? According to the Coast Guard the three leading causes of ships sinking are human error, a rift in the hull usually caused by a collision, and stormy weather. Hmmmm....

Sometimes in life we are sinking because our own decisions added extra weight to our boat. The additional burden may come from being over committed, carrying more cargo that your ship can handle.  It could be that you are carrying cargo that you were never designed to carry.  A small sailboat is designed to carry people, not big cargo containers.  

Other times the ship is sinking because there's a rift in the hull. Sometimes the hole in the boat is because we have traveled off course and collided with something. Sometimes our life choices can be corrosive and cause holes to form.   And while the right kind of friendships and relationships can help lift your boat and keep it afloat, the wrong kind of relationships can tear holes in your hull.  

"Do not be mislead;  bad company corrupts good character."  1 Corinthians 15:33

"Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm."  Proverbs 13:20

And I think we are all aware that life can be full of storms that we have no control over.  We didn't cause them, they just suddenly showed up, causing waves to crash over the sides of our boat, filling the hull with water.  Fierce storms that bring strong winds that threaten to tip us over on our side and sink us.

Have you ever watched something sink?  Sometimes it happens quickly.  When you throw a rock in the water it immediately sinks to the bottom.  But most of the time, sinking is a slower process. What usually happens is that water starts to get in slowly, a little at a time, causing the boat to slowly gain weight and begin to sit lower and lower in the water. Eventually there is a tipping point,  the point at which there is a shift and the added weight of the water makes the boat too heavy to float.  At that point, the sinking process speeds up.  

It seems to me, and many others I have had conversations with, that life lately can feel very heavy.   All around I see people who are walking around trying to single handedly carry the burdens and weight of life, taking  on water, and feeling like they are on the tipping point and about to sink.  I have been there at times myself.  Let me just state right now that this idea of bearing the weights, burdens, and sorrows of this world by ourselves, on our own, is not God's plan.  In fact, God's whole plan for us is built on a principle of dependence, not independence. And God has provided us with solutions to lighten the load and keep our boats afloat.

The problem with added weight in our lives is that we are often embarrassed to acknowledge it to anyone, even God.  We view our struggle with the weight as a weakness.  And I am here to tell you that it is a weakness, but one that all humans have in common.  We are all weak, but we have a BIG STRONG God who is willing to help us with the burdens and weight of this world, even if it is a self-inflicted burden.   But don't take my word for it, listen to what the Bible says:

"Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you."  Psalm 55:20

"The Lord sustains all who fall and raises up all who are bowed down."  Psalm 145:14

"Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, yes I will help you.  I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."  Isaiah 41:10

All we have to do is ask for God's help.  Seems simple, right?  Then why is it sometimes so very hard?  It's not like we are hiding anything from God.  It's not like He doesn't already know what is going on.  Sometimes it's a matter of pride, feeling like I should be able to handle this myself.  Sometimes it's a matter of shame,  because we know that we are the cause of this added weight due to our own poor decisions.  And sometimes it's because we feel like this weight is too small of a problem to bring before God.  The scriptures above offer us compelling instructions on how to handle the burdens of this world.  God is offering his help to us regardless of why we need the help.   All we need to do is ask for Help.

 Isaiah 30:18  says,

"Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you;  therefore he will rise up to show you compassion."

That word... LONGS ...  it means yearns, pines, craves, eagerly, aspires, aches.  So you could say:

God yearns to be gracious to you

God pines to be gracious to you

God is craving to be gracious to you

God is eager to be gracious to you

God aspires to be gracious to you

God aches to be gracious to you

We can trust God to help us.  He knows every good and bad thing about us and yet He still longs to help.  That is so encouraging! God wants to help us!  When I ask God for help, He always shows up.  And His comfort is soul deep, life changing, and life affirming.  I can go to God feeling so heavy that it feels like I can barely lift my head, and He has a way of easing my burdened soul.  My circumstances my not have changed, but the way I am carrying them has.  I'm not carrying the load alone.  My boat would not be floating without God's help.

And God provided another way to help us with the weight of the world with this amazing concept of friendship.  We crave and need companionship, friendship, and relationship.  Let's go back to the concept of floating and weight for just a moment... the principle of displacement of water... which in it's most simplistic meaning refers to  the concept that an object floats when the weight force on the object is balanced by the upward push of the water on the object.  That concept ties directly with one of the key principles of friendship that God laid out for us in the Bible.  Friends are meant to help balance us and provided us an upward push.  Here are a few scriptures about friendship in the Bible:

"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."  Galatians 6:2

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.  If either of them falls down, one can help the other up."  Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born of a time of adversity."  Proverbs 17:17

 

Again, a seemingly simple answer, but oh so hard for us to do.  It is hard for us to share our burdens with others for some of the same reasons we struggle sharing them with God:  pride, shame, feeling like our issue is too small.  But this solution of sharing our burdens with others also feels riskier... because it involves trusting in another person who is just as weak and fallible as you are.  It's much easier to trust God with your burdens, there's not as much vulnerability in admitting something to a God who we inherently know already understands and is aware of the ins and outs of the situation.  Nothing is hidden from God.   But other people?  We keep a lot hidden from other people.  Asking for help puts us in a vulnerable position.  It goes back to that principle of God's kingdom being built on dependence, not independence.  But I can tell you from personal experience that there have been many times in my life where friends have come alongside me when I was taking in water and on the verge of sinking and they have lifted me up, and helped me to float instead of sink. But I had to be willing to put out the distress call.  They have helped carry the burden by praying with me and for me.  They have shown up and sat with me in my grief.  They have listened.  They have given me good advice.  They have cried with me.  They have encouraged me.  They have reminded me that I am not alone.  My boat would not be floating without help from my friends and family.

So I wrote all this to encourage you and to encourage myself.  When life is heavy, and your boat feels like it is sinking, there is help.  All you have to do is ask for it.  You were meant for dependence on God and others.  You do not have to bear the weight on your own.

I hope this encourages you, comforts you, and helps you.  And this week I hope your boat floats!  I'll leave you with an old  Irish Sailors Blessing and a few more boat photos.

There are good ships,

And there are wood ships,

The ships that sail the sea.

But the best ships,

Are friendships,

And may they always be.

 Marseille, France

Capri, Italy

Capri, Italy

Mykonos, Greece

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Croatia

Venice, Italy

Schinousa, Greece

Greece

Distinctly Different and Purposefully Created

 

A few opening comments before I dive right into this blog. I have taken a VERY long break from writing.  In fact, I thought I might be done with that season, and yet I find myself writing this today.   I am writing this as a result of a recent conversation with someone dear to me.  This conversation birthed this particular blog.  So this one is for you, dear loved one, you know who you are. Here we go....

I'm sure that I do not have to identify the animals in the above photograph taken on a trip to the Kalahari Desert in South Africa.  Giraffe are one of those animals that are immediately recognized by all.  And part of what makes them so recognizable is that they are a distinctly different looking animal.  In fact, Geraldine Jewsbury said, 

"Did you ever see a giraffe?  It is like something from between regions of truth and fiction."

Upon first look, the Giraffe does not "fit in" with the rest of animals it is surrounded by.  They stick out like sore thumbs, with their long, gangly looking legs and stretched out necks.  They have these long skinny tails that end in a strange puff of rough fur.  Their faces are long and triangular, giving them an almost comical look.   And when they open up their mouth they have this crazy looking long, dark tongue.  They have a tendency to drool.  A lot.  They eat differently, sleep differently, and, due to their height, they see things differently than most of the other animals around them.

In spite of their long neck, they actually can't reach the ground to graze or to drink water without awkwardly splaying their legs, bending their knees, and craning their neck forward.  It's as uncomfortable as it looks, not only because of the effort this takes, but also because it leaves the Giraffe completely vulnerable to attack from a predator.  To make matters worse, due to the distance between the heart and the brain, this position requires their heart to work extra hard to pump the blood where it needs to go.  

And these gangly, knobby kneed, awkward looking animals are placed in Africa and surrounded with arguably some of the most beautiful  animals in the world.  Like the dainty, sleek, pretty faced Gazelles.  Or the speedy and agile Springboks who can run 55 mph and leap over 6 feet into the air.  Don't forget the the supple grace and stunning beauty of a Leopard.  Being surrounded by that type of beauty and talent would be enough to give anyone a complex.

One might look at the Giraffe and wonder if God was thinking clearly when he got around to creating them.  One might even wonder if mistakes were made. Maybe the Giraffe was a design flaw, because it is definitely not like the others.

Which brings me to this question, have you ever felt like a Giraffe surrounded by Gazelles, Springboks, and Leopards?  Have you ever felt like you see the world from a different point of view than others? I know I have.  I know I have been in group settings where my interests, skill sets, activities, and views were vastly different than everyone else.   It can be especially awkward if everyone else seems like they are  all aligned in interests and activities and you find that you are the Giraffe, sticking out and different.  I'm going to circle back to this, but let's return to our Giraffe story, because there's more to unpack and learn about our animal friend.

Giraffes are the tallest land Mammal on earth.  Their height makes them stick out, but it also gives them a fabulous advantage, in that they can see over trees and bushes that many other animals can't.  They also have superb eyesight and can see long distances.  The combination of height and keen eyesight makes them excellent at spotting trouble, in particular, predators.  They can spot a predator before anyone else has a clue that there is anything wrong.  This makes the Giraffe a desirable companion, and you often find herds of prey animals hanging around the Giraffe, counting on them being an early warning system for predators. 

Because of their height, Giraffes tend to eat the leaves, flowers, and fruit that other herbivores are unable to reach.  This provides several advantages for the Giraffe.  The most obvious is the fact that they usually  can find food, even if the lower branches and foliage have been over-grazed.  But the less obvious advantage is that it allows them to live in harmony with other herbivores because they are not competing with each other for food. 

Are you ready for a few more incredible and unique Giraffe facts?  They are not as reliant on water as some of the other animals are.  In fact, they get a much of their water from the dew on the leaves they eat as well as the leaves themselves.  So they can go a couple of days without water, unlike the Cape Buffalo, who have to drink water every day.  And since they are at their most vulnerable when bending down to drink it is helpful to not have to put themselves into that dangerous position more than necessary.

And let's talk about that drooling problem.  News flash, it's not a problem at all.  Their sticky saliva helps them get their food all the way down that very long neck and into their stomaches.  But the coolest thing about Giraffe spit?  It's a known natural antiseptic.  You see, Giraffe have a taste for Acacia trees, and these trees have known antiseptic qualities, which is then integrated into their saliva.  And this natural antiseptic found in their saliva helps the Giraffe heal any cuts on their tongues and mouth they may get while eating from the very thorny Acacia Trees.  It also helps prevent any infection from settling in. And that crazy looking dark blue tongue?  The dark blue color keeps them from getting sunburn on their tongue.  Unlike most herbivores, their tongue is prehensile, which allows them to grip and strip the leaves off the branches.  Very useful indeed.

Recent research also discovered that Giraffes are pretty smart cookies, despite their relatively small brain size.  In fact, in recent tests Giraffe have shown the  ability to use statistical inferences to increase their likelihood of eating their favorite treat.  They use this reasoning while grazing, searching out ways to get the best food possible. 

And it turns out that Giraffes are not loners, they are just more subtle about their bonds.  In fact,  they have quite complex social structures.  Giraffes form yearslong relationships, have "lunch buddies," and maintain close bonds with their mothers and grandmothers.  Females often form Creches, a type of daycare, where they share babysitting and feeding duties of the calves.  It's also been shown that post-reproductive Giraffes engage in cooperative parenting as well.  This may be where the concept of them being "gentle" came from.

I hope this deeper dive into some Giraffe 'facts" made you to look at them differently. God knew what He was doing when He made the Giraffe.  And He definitely had a plan and purpose for the Giraffe to fulfill in the animal kingdom. A role that no other animal could fill.  And isn't that a perfect picture of how God works, even in the human world?

In fact, the bible is full of "Giraffes" that God used in amazing ways. These were people that stuck out, they were different than anyone else.  They looked different, thought differently, had different interests than the others around them.  People like John the Baptist-- he was certainly a Giraffe.  He wore camel's hair and ate locust and wild honey, he didn't live like or look like anybody else.  And yet he was the one God created with the purpose of preparing the way for the arrival of Jesus.

So to bring this blog to a close, I want to circle back to the question of do you ever feel like a Giraffe?  Sticking out instead of comfortably fitting in? Vastly different than anyone else in terms of interests, skills, activities, and maybe even life experiences?  If so, let me encourage you by saying that God knew exactly what He was doing when He created you. He says so in scripture.

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."  Ephesians 2:10

""My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth."  Psalm 139:15

"But now, O Lord, you are our Father;  we are the clay, and you are our potter;  we are all the work of your hand."  Isaiah 64:8

And you have been created to fill your spot here on earth.  So, instead of worrying that you are not 'like" everyone else around you, rejoice in the purpose you were specifically created for.  You may not be able to run as fast as the Springboks around you. And you may not be as dainty and pretty as the Gazelles, but your value to the group lies in your differences.  Remember that the Springboks and Gazelles hang around the Giraffe, not because they are the same, but because the Giraffe brings a set of assets and skills that they do not have. The Giraffe is often the one who spots the incoming danger first.  They  hang around the Giraffe because they can live in harmony with others.  The Giraffe isn't interested in competing with the others.   And I would add that I imagine that other animals hang around Giraffes because the Giraffe is tolerant of a variety of different species.

So next time you are feeling out of place, not like the others, awkward, unsure, insecure, I want you to remember the story of the Giraffe.  And just like the Giraffe, you are purposefully created.  You have a role to play. Let your unique features be your strengths, just like the Giraffes.  Don't waste time trying to be like a Gazelle or Springbok, that's not who you were created to be. The Giraffe add value to their community by simply being themselves.  I hope this leaves you feeling encouraged.  And if nothing else, I hope you enjoy some of the photos I took while in Africa.  I'll leave you with a few more.

Ancora Imparo -- A Review of What Saying Yes has Taught Me

"Ancora Imparo" is an Italian phrase meaning "Yet, I am still learning."  It is often attributed to Michelangelo, who wrote this inscription on a sketch he was working on at the age of 87 years old.  I love this quote so much that I had it enlarged into a transfer that I placed on my office wall  where I can look at it everyday.

 Around this time, on a whim, I happened to download a book by Shanda Rhimes entitled, "Year of Yes" onto my kindle while traveling back to Denver to spend some time with my mom.  Mom was really starting to sleep a lot due to her battle with cancer, and while sitting with her I simply read while she slept.  There was really no thought put into the book purchase other than I was looking for something a little bit light and easy to read, something I could put down and pick back up with ease.  Nothing too heavy, too dark, or too sad-- I was already dealing with enough of that with mom's illness.  And I had also been a fan of several of the T.V. shows that the author produced.

The concept of the book was simply her experience with deciding to challenge herself to say yes to everything that scared her for one year.  And I'll admit it, I enjoyed the book, but I didn't feel like it was necessarily life changing. I consider myself to be fairly adventurous.  I mean, it wasn't like I was spending my time locked up in my house all by myself with my cat.  At this point I had traveled a fair amount.  I had a career for a while.  I raised a child.  I have a college degree.  I sat there thinking that I haven't spent my life in isolation, in a small little box, afraid to go out into the world. So I read the book, enjoyed it, and set it aside.

But, that word Yes kept popping up over and over, and sometimes in the strangest of places and the strangest of ways.  It came up in  conversation with a friend when we were talking about our recent moves to a new city. We had both  recently moved to Columbus and she was saying that she decided that because they were new to the city and didn't have a friend base here, they decided to say yes to every invitation to dinner, events, etc. that they could.   Then there was a sermon at church about saying Yes.  And so  on and so on... that word kept popping up.

And I had also been  thinking about turning 50 and what that meant.  I'll admit that I am not one of those people who mourned turning 50.  I have had friends who have died before they ever reached this age, so it's a gift to still be here.   I have had a mostly good 50 years of life.  And I have managed to fit a lot of life into 50 years.  But, I wanted to be mindful of where I wanted to go next. Like most people, large chunks of my younger years involved me reacting to life rather than actively participating in it.  And the control freak in me, which has gotten stronger with age, wanted to at least be more thoughtful about choices and decisions that I make from here on out.

It was in the middle of all this thinking and consideration one morning when I looked up to my office wall and read those words... Ancora Imparo-- and it hit me-  I couldn't remember the last time I really made a conscious decision to learn something new.  And the more I thought about it,  I had started to say no more and more often to new experiences.  Hmmm....

And with not a lot of deep thought or even deep conviction I decided to try a year of saying Yes to new experiences to celebrate being 50.  I mean, it wasn't like I was going to tell anyone that I was doing it, so if I decided to quit partway through the year, no one would know.  If I hated it, or didn't follow through, it wasn't going to hurt anyone.  Why not?  I thought I would just treat it like a New Years resolution-- maybe I will stick to it, maybe I won't.

So, in the spirit of still learning, I signed up to take a watercolor class at our local conservatory.  I've always had a love of art-- as my husband and son can testify too-- since I have drug them both through various art museums throughout our travels-- but I am very aware that a love for art and a talent to create art are two distinctly different things.  And although this class stated that it was clearly for beginners, and there wasn't going to be a grade involved, I began to regret my decision to sign up almost immediately.  Which took me completely by surprise. I feel like most of the time I am a pretty confident person, but here I was worrying about a class that was supposed to be for fun.  My perfectionism kicked in right away-- what if I was really bad at painting?  Can you fail a for fun art class?  And there were going to be other people there, what if I am the worst painter in the class?  When the day rolled around for my first class, I waited until the last minute to leave the house.  In fact, I almost didn't go at all.  But go I did, and showed up to the class, where I was the youngest and least experienced person there.  At first, I fretted over doing everything perfectly.  I fretted over the drawing process,  I fretted over combining the paints to get the right colors,  I fretted over how amazing the lady next to me was.... this wasn't turning out to be as fun as I had originally planned.  But then,  our teacher turned on some music, and left us to practice the concepts she had just taught us on our own.   I began to relax with the music and I finally just let all of my thoughts go.  And guess what?   I began to have fun!  And I was learning something new.  And it was challenging for me.    The teacher and the women in the class were great at  encouraging and gently teaching me.  I have discovered that I really do enjoy painting.  I am by far not the best in the class, but I'm not the worst either.  And I am still learning....

What I learned from saying yes to this art class was threefold.  One, saying yes to things that you might be uncomfortable with helps you learn to tolerate uncertainty.  Truly nothing is certain in life anyway, so you need to be ok with that.  Two,  failure isn't as big of a deal as we make it out to be.  In fact, we can learn a lot through failing-- but we often choose guaranteed success at the expense of learning just because we are afraid to fail at something.  And thirdly, learning something new is good for your brain.  In fact, studies have shown that learning new skills lowers your cortisol levels, improves your immune function, and actually helps you increase and create new synapse connections in your brain.

My next Yes was even more terrifying for me:  I committed to being a "W.I.S.H. woman for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.  What that basically means is that I committed to raising at least $10,000 for the 2019 fundraising year  to help fund one childs wish.  This "Yes" was upping the stakes a little more because if I failed, it would impact others, not just me.  Believe me, nobody wants to fail a child!  Ever!  And I was a little nervous because although I had done fundraising before for both my son's schools and for the University where I worked-- with those I always had staff or other people helping me.  Plus, I had connections with various people in the community.  Well, we had only lived in Columbus for about a year, and we were just starting to make those connections.  But I wanted to find ways to give back to my local community, and this opportunity presented itself... so I said yes.  And then spent the next month or so freaking out about my decision.  Again, insecurity loomed.  Also, I really, really, really hate to sell stuff-- I am not a salesman!  And I truly hate to ask for money!  What had I done?  And then I had an amazing encounter with an incredible couple who we met while in South Africa.  

We were staying at the same lodge and sharing a safari vehicle with a couple from New Zealand.  We so enjoyed their company and we all got on pretty well.  One night, in a conversation over dinner, the subject of me volunteering to raise funds for Make-A-Wish came up.  I simply shared with this couple (and the others at our table) what Make-A-Wish does and what my fundraising goal was.  And then we moved on in the conversation.  I didn't give it another thought.  However, when I got home from our trip to Africa, I had an email waiting for me from that couple with a donation towards my fundraising campaign. All from one dinner conversation with people that  we spent 3 days with in the bush of Africa.  Amazing!  And although they were the first to donate, they were by far not the last!  My amazing group of friends and my husbands fantastic company all came together to raise over $10,000 for Make-A-Wish.  

The lesson from this Yes?  That people are amazingly kind, generous, loving, and giving.  And that they are willing to help others that they do not know and may never meet!  It also taught me to dream bigger dreams-- because sometimes they do come true.

My next Yes lesson came from an art tour we signed up for while spending the night in Windhoek, Namibia.  It all began with a call from our travel agents stating that we had a flight schedule change and needed to extend our stay in Windhoek.  This left us with a full, free afternoon to explore the area, and she suggested that we might consider this new tour that a friend of hers was doing-- an art tour which featured local artists from Namibia.  Being an art lover I jumped at the chance to visit, meet, and converse with local artists.  Little did I know how different, and entirely incredible, this tour was going to be.  Our guides met us at the hotel and we jumped in their vehicle to begin the tour. They pointed out some of the historical buildings as we drove through town heading to our first location.  

And then the guide turned his car towards an unexpected location.  He turned down a road that lead out of the "city" area and we headed towards a local "township."  For those of you who do not know, a township in Africa is an area where people have come  in and built homes out of corrugated tin, scraps, literally whatever material they can find.  Driving past we could see some young kids "pirating" electricity from the power lines-- they literally hook wires onto these lines, run them down the poles, and bury them in shallow trenches that run towards whatever home needs electricity.  It looks entirely unsafe and it was worrisome to see these young children handling something that could kill them with one wrong move.  As we drove by, our guide explained that although to our very "western" eyes this looked a tad bit chaotic and unsafe, these neighborhoods were in fact vibrant thriving communities.  Most of the people who lived in this township were from tribes that used to be nomadic-- a lifestyle that is nearly impossible to maintain in these modern times-- which all of our fences, and borders, and rules.  And so, they have adapted, changed their lifestyles to   a more sedentary one.   They have developed and built schools and community centers.  They have these amazing open air markets.  We passed by barber shops, butcher shops, and restaurants-- all run out of these (by our standards) small tin structures with pirated electricity.  And then we arrived at our first stop, a small art school run by a local artist.  He ran this free school to provide the kids in his area a place to come to after school, while their parents were still working.   They use anything they can find to create amazing art.  Some of the children were making jewelry out of pieces of aluminum soda cans, some of the children were sewing and weaving pieces, and some in the back were sketching.    All of the artwork was stunning, and different, and extremely creative.  And all of it a reflection of their life, their complex and extraordinary culture, and their ability to see the beauty all around them.   

Our next stop was at the house of a local artist known as Uncle Paul.  Uncle Paul graciously invited us into his home and showed us his work.  A completely self taught, untrained artist, his paintings reflect all he has seen while growing up in Namibia.  We talked about the dramatic changes his country has gone through from their occupation by South Africa, to apartheid, the struggle for  Independence in 1988, rebellions, and most recently the severe drought that has hit this already very arid country. All of this is reflected in his work. What an amazing artist as well as just such a kind and humble man!

This Yes challenged me to redefine my definitions of beauty, creativity, and community.  It also reminded me of the role that art plays by not only adding beauty to life, but also in recording history and providing important and often deeply moving social commentary about what is taking place in society.

This next Yes led me to one of the most amazing experiences of my life.  I will never, ever forget this experience, and it involved these Mopane worms you see in the photo above.  While staying at a Ongava Lodge in the upper Northern part of Namibia near Etosha National Park, we were privileged to get to know a young man named Rio, who was working there.   We were telling Rio how much we were enjoying our meal when the topic of favorite foods came up and Rio mentioned that he loved  a dish called Pap and we should try it sometime.  I told him that we would love to try some traditional Namibian food.  Rio, after asking us if we really meant it, and asking if we would be really open minded, said that he talked to the chef and they would be preparing for us a traditional Namibian meal that evening for dinner.  

We arrived back at camp after our evening game drive and were greeted by several camp staff dressed in traditional tribal clothing who informed us that after we cleaned up a bit they would be hosting us for the meal.  Upon arriving at the main lodge we were then invited in and several of the camp staff joined us.  They began to instruct us in all the traditions of their tribe and how a traditional tribal meal took place.  I was given the honor of being the matriarchal female-- which meant that no one could sit for the meal until I did.  I was instructed where to sit and how to sit.  As the Mother, I sat on the floor with my legs outstretched and slightly crossed at the ankles.  I am told that no matter what happens, the head mother never moves from her spot.  The belief is that the head mother (which is who I am for the evening)  is a type of barometer for the emotional stability of the home.  As long as the head mother remains calm, everything will be ok. Then Jeff was given the honor of being the patriarchal male and was instructed to sit with his legs crossed.  Then the young women sat, legs crossed with their dresses drawn over the knees.  The young men, however do not sit.  Instead they kneel with one knee on the ground and the other leg bent with their foot flat on the ground-- always at the ready to defend the tribe or livestock.  

After everyone was seated, the meal was brought out on long wooden platter that had five partitions carved into it.  Each partition held a different traditional food.  In the center sat the Pap-- which is a  a doughy type of porridge/polenta made from ground maize.  They explain that we do not use utensils to eat the food, instead we use the pap to scoop up portions of the other foods.  The other four foods on the platter were cooked spinach,  some cooked beans, Biltong (which is basically jerky made from some type of game meat-- in this case Oryx), and cooked Mopane worms.  They then begin to explain that as the head of house woman, I must take two bites before anyone else can eat.  In their culture, since the head of household woman usually prepares the food, she gets the first two bites. While  I understand that this is a great honor,  I am also thinking, dear lord, what did I get myself into this time?    I am also determined to not offend these dear people in any way.  They have honored me by inviting me into their tradition and culture, and there is no way I am going to  disrespect them or their culture.  So I check to make sure that my drink is full and  I go straight in and grab a worm with my pap, all the while thinking that I might just be able to swallow it whole, helped along with a good amount of water.  It becomes apparent to me once it is in my mouth that this process is going to require chewing, there's no way to swallow this worm whole.  And I will stop here to say that the word worm is misleading, because these are really what we in the states would call a caterpillar-- a large one at that.  As I chew  I am thinking that once I eat the worm, I can then dive into the more familiar food and take my second bite, which will then do two things-- first, it will help erase the flavor of  the worm if it is bad, and it will allow others to eat so that I am not the sole focus of their attention.  

I can only imaging what my face looked like.  I was trying to maintain  a serene face, while I was slightly panicking inside.  But a funny thing happened once I relaxed and decided in my mind that I was going to enjoy this amazing experience, I actually chewed the worm... and it wasn't bad.  The spices they used were really good, and the Mopane worm, while still an insect, was kind of tasty. And as soon as I let go of my fear and hesitation, the evening turned into something indescribably  magic.  Sitting around this simple meal with this group, eating their local food and listening to their tales of growing up in Namibia, asking questions and laughing together, while the sounds of the bush sounded out all around us,  I gained priceless insight into this stunning country and it's beautiful people.  I fell deeply in love with this country in this moment.  

This Yes taught me the value of engaging my heart and leaning into a deeper understanding when interacting with people who are different from me.  The importance of listening to what others are saying, without judgement.  That there is value in differing thoughts, perspectives, and experiences.  It also reminded me that despite all of our differences in culture we still had a lot in common.  And  that trying new things can turn out better than you expect.

I can't go into every Yes story or it would turn into a very long blog (or a book), but I will leave you with a few more thoughts on what I gained by just saying one simple word more often.  I learned that I can do more things than I thought I could.  I learned that I can still learn new things.  I am more confident in situations where I might feel a little unsure or apprehensive.  I have had more fun and amazingly enriching life experiences all from saying yes to things.   I have met some of the most incredible people on planet earth!  I look at the world differently and more positively. I am more curious and willing to learn new things.  I find myself stopping more, and just enjoying the moment-- big or small-- whether it's looking at brilliant sunset or just enjoying the smell of a pine tree forest.  It has brought back my sense of wonder... wonder at this amazing world we live on, wonder at the incredible people I get to share this planet with, and wonder that God has created it all.

I am looking forward to continuing this practice of Yes into the next year!  I can't wait to see the crazy, remarkable, surprising, and awe-inspiring experiences saying Yes brings me to and through!  Letting my Yes experiences help me in my quest for Ancora Impara-- to keep learning.  Maybe you can try it with me?

This is not the blog I sat down to write, but it is the one I ended up with...just by saying another Yes.. I hope you were at least entertained, if not encouraged to try and say Yes more.  I'll leave you with a few more of the Yes moments from the past 18 months, some of them with photos.  Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  I hope they are full of extraordinary and ordinary moments of wonder!

Yes Experiences:

1.  The very first photo on this blog is of Jeff and I exploring the caves of Walker Bay in South Africa.

2.  Did a night snorkel with feeding Manta Rays off the coast of the Big Island in Hawaii.  These amazing creatures are over 15 feet wide and weigh in at over 6,000 pounds.  Incredible, eery, stunning moment!

 

3.  Hung out with African Porcupines one evening in Namibia.  I even brought back some of their shed quills.

 

4.  Hiked into the DeadVlei in the Namibian Desert.

 

5.  Took a very spur of the moment trip to lake Michigan.  Seriously last minute (which for a planner like me is sacrilege).  We talked about going out of town that morning around 8 am.  By 1 pm Jeff had left work early, I had booked a cabin,  and we were packed on on our way.  Very fun weekend with my handsome husband!

6. Visited one of the famed Cape Vineyards in South Africa.

7.  Had diner with a White Rhino in attendance in South Africa.

 8.  Had diner out in the middle of the bush in Sabi Sands, South Africa by lantern light.

 

9.  Had several close encounters with  elephants in South Africa.

10.  Went snowshoeing for the first time on Lake Louise in Canada.  I  know... I was born and raised in Colorado and this was my first snowshoeing experience....go figure

 

11.  Touched a Fennec Fox.  They are so incredibly soft!!!!

12.  Hung out with this handsome African Penguin at a charity dinner.  I got to touch him too.

 

13.  Got to meet one my heroes in person,  Dr. Laurie Marker who started the Cheetah Conservation Fund.

 

14.  Saw a Honey Badger in the wild at Etosha National Park, Namibia.

15.  Sat in a Photo blind and photographed animals as they came to the watering hole in Ongava, Namibia

16.  Laid outside in this bed atop our room in the Namib Desert and stargazed under some of the clearest skies on planet earth  with my handsome husband.

17.  Sat next to a lion in the wild while he roared.  Still gives me goose bumps!

18.  Hung out on our deck with a troop of Vervet Monkeys while they played and swam in our pool.

 

19.  Walked in the footsteps of a legend... this is Londolozi in South Africa, the place where Nelson Mandela wrote most of his book "Long Walk to Freedom."

20.  Went dog sledding in Banff, Canada.  Jeff ran the sled and I enjoyed the ride.

21.  Went on my first honest-to-goodness sleigh ride at Lake Louise in Canada

22.  Enjoyed New Year's Day game of Bocce Ball on the beach with dear friends.

23.  Saw a Chameleon in the wild... South Africa

24.  Joined a book club.